Clothes-line prop.



No. 878,415. PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.

' n. MoDOUGALL.

CLOTHES LINE PROP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1907.

Dal/id Mclioagall,

W TNESSES [NVENTOR 8" 1, V 8 By I ATTORNEYS DAVID MCDOUGALL, OF FALL RIVER, MASSAOHUSETTS.

CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed March 4:. 1907 Serial No. 360.419.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID MoDoUGALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Line Prop, (Case A) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes line pro ps and has for its object the provision of a knock down prop including a plurality of pivoted sections one of which is movable laterally to folded position so that the sections may be compactly assembled for transportation or shipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the folding section in extended position, and meansforreinforcing and strengthening the line-engaging end of the prop.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a per spective view of a clothes line prop constructed in accordance with my mvention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the prop in folded position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The prop consists of relatively stationary and movable members 5 and 6 one of which is provided with a pointed terminal 7 adapted to be embedded in the ground when the prop is in use while the free end of the opposite section 6 is bifurcated to form a vertically disposed slot for the reception of the clothes line.

Extending transversely across the free end of the member 6 is a rod or bolt 9 which serves to reinforce and strengthen the bifurcated end of the prop and thus prevent the latter from splitting, the opposite ends of the bolt being extended beyond the adjacent longitudinal edges of the section 6 to form terminal heads 11 for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to one face of the lower section 5 IS a bracket 12 provided with spaced laterally extending arms 13 having alined perforations formed thereinfor the reception of a pivot bolt 14, there being a similar bracket 15 secured to the adjacent end of the upper or movable section 6 and pivotally mounted on the bolt 14 thereby to permit said section to be moved to extended or folded position.

Secured to the opposite longitudinal edges of the movable section 6 in any suitable manner as by screws or similar fastening devices 16 are spaced reinforcing plates or strips 17 which strips are preferably disposed parallel with the laterally extending cars 18 of the bracket 15 thereby to assist in looking the bracket against accidental displacement as well as to form a housing or casing for the pivoted end of the section 6. Attention is here called to the fact that the pivot bolt 14 pierces the cars 13 and 18 and also the plates 17 thus materially reinforcing and strengthening the hinged connection between the pivoted sections.

Slidably mounted on the upper or movable section 6 is a clamping band or collar 20 preferably formed of a single piece of flat metal the opposite ends of which are overlapped and rigidly secured together by a rivet 21. The locking collar 20 is slidably mounted on the section 6 and is preferably of a width equal to the combined width of the sections 5 and 6, so that when the upper section 6 is moved laterally to extended position and the collar adjusted longitudinally thereof the two sections forming the prop may be securely locked in engagement with each other.

One end of the lower or stationary section 5 is preferably inclined or tapered, as in dicated at 22 so as to assist in positioning the clamping collar on or removing said collar from engagement with the lower section of the prop. Attention is called to the fact that the longitudinal movement of the collar 20 is limited by engagement with the enlarged heads 11 of the reinforcing bolt 9 thus preventing the collar from becoming accidentally detached from the movable section 6 when the prop is folded.

In using the prop the movable section 6 is swung laterally and upwardly into engagement with the inclined end 22 of the stationary'section 5 after which the collar 20 is adjusted longitudinally of the member 6 into engagement with the inclined end of the l of the clothes line, and a locking collar slidmember 5 and in which position the two sections may be locked in alinement with each other so as to permit the prop or pole to be positioned on the line and used in the ordinary manner.

In order to fold the sections so that the prop may be conveniently handled when transported from place to place it is merely necessary to move the clamping collar 20 out of engagement with the inclined end 22 of the relatively stationary section 5 when the movable section 6 may be folded laterally and downwardly upon the upper face of the stationary section 5, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremly simple, inexpensive and efficient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A clothes line prop including a relatively stationary section having one end thereof inclined or beveled, a relatively movable section pivotally mounted on the stationary section and having its free end formed with a recess opening through the adjacent end of said section for the reception ably mounted on the movable section and adapted to engage the inclined end of the stationary section for locking said sections in extended position.

2. A clothes line prop including a relatively stationary section, a bracket secured to one face of the stationary section at a point intermediate the opposite ends of the same and provided with spaced laterally extending perforated ears, a movable section having reinforcing plates secured to the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, a plate extending transversely across one end of the movable section and having its opposite ends interposed between the ears and reinforcing plates, a bolt extending through the perforations in the ears and engaging the reinforcing and transverse plates, and a collar slidably mounted on the movable section and adapted to engage the adjacent end of the stationary section.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID MQDOUGALL.

Witnesses:

KATHERINE C. PEAsE, ALBERT HAWARTH. 

